In addition, NADPH oxidase subunits (p22phox, p47phox, and gp91phox) and MAPK family members (ERK, p38 MAPK and JNK), all of which are involved in SMC phenotypic switching in atherosclerosis, were significantly elevated in SMCs of MerTKflox/floxTie2Cre mice compared to MerTKflox/flox mice (Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4). This evidence concerns the gene MAPK8 and atherosclerosis.